OPEN SPACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1942, Page 2

OPEN SPACE

ACQUISITION OF TOWN

BLOCK

PROPOSAL BEING PREPARED BY MAYOR.

CHURCH ST.-BANNISTER ST. AREA.

A proposal by the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, for the Masterton Borough Council to take over the whole of the Church Street-Bannister Street block as an open space in'the centre of the town was put forward at a special meeting of the council last night, when Mr Jordan made a preliminary announcement in respect to the matter.

Referring to the project as a town, planning scheme, Mr Jordan told councillors that before very long he intended to submit to them proposals for taking over the whole block of land from the Midland Hotel to Pither’s corner as an open space in the centre of the town. About 2i- acres of land were involved. An open area on the lines proposed, he said, would make Masterton, and he invited councillors to do their best to consider it from a long-range point of view. At present there was congestion in the main street, which had a high traffic content and sooner or later that would cause trouble. The opening up of this area would relieve congestion, increase the shopping area and make a beauty'lspot. Mr Jordan said he was getting the necessary information together and had taken some steps to provide for the proposal. He pointed out that the council had complete power to control the reconstruction of any building; and this had crystallised the value of the block in question. He had in mind also the development of the three sides opposite the block, in Church Street, Dixon Street and Bannister Street, which would involve the widening of Bannister Street to its full width and the development .'of the three sides as shopping areas. He believed it would be to the benefit of everyone in the community that the land should be taken, at a long-range view. The question of betterment cropped up, but he did not wish to consider it or discuss it at present. He would like the public to look ahead 40 or 50 yeais hence. Never in the history of the town could a proposal of this kind be carried out as easily as it could now. Mr Jordan said he did not want to hear anyone talk about confiscation. The council could not take anything without paying for it. His announcement, he said, was a preliminary one.